Protection apparatus for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A combined safety bumper guard and cutter elements for a vehicle, such as a snowmobile. A frame consisting of square cross sectioned structural elements is removably mounted on the snowmobile. The frame includes two U-shaped members whose legs are rigidly affixed to each other, and whose central portions are spanned by two substantially oblique structural members each of which has a hardened steel cutter element mounted thereon for cutting or severing wires or other obstacles encountered by the snowmobile when in motion.

United States Patent Confer [s41 PROTECTION APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE [72]Inventor: Howard F. Confer, 116 Chesterfield, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.48013 22 Filed: April 16,1970

211 Appl. No.: 29,027

[52] U.S. Cl. ..280/l50 C, 180/5 R [51] Int. Cl ..B60r 19/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..280/150 R, 150 C, 150 F; 296/102; 30/233 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,552,514 1/1971 Alpers ..280/150 C1,122,742 12/1914 l-lalbach ..280/15() R 2,529,998 11/1950 Burke..280/l50 R 1 1 Nov. 28, 1972 Primary Examiner-Benjamin l-lershAssistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Attomey-lrving M. Weiner ABSTRACT Acombined safety bumper guard and cutter elements for a vehicle, such asa snowmobile. A frame consisting of square cross sectioned structuralelements is removably mounted on the snowmobile. The frame includes twoU-shaped members whose legs are rigidly affixed to each other, and whosecentral portions are spanned by two substantially oblique structuralmembers each of which has a hardened steel cutter element mountedthereon for cutting or severing wires or other obstacles encountered bythe snowmobile when in motion.

1 Clains, 7 Drawing figures PATENTEUHUV 28 m I 3.704.031

INVENTOR HOWARD F. CON FER 4W3; 771.76% BY} ATTORNEY PROTECTIONAPPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE The present invention relates to a protection apparatus for use in conjunction with a vehicle. In particular, theinvention relates to a combined safety bumper guard apparatus with anobstacle-cutting device for use with snowmobiles.

Most conventional vehicles, such as snowmobiles, are manufactured andsold to the public without sufficient bumper guard protection, and as aresult the slightest impact with any obstacle invariably causes greatdamage to the vehicle and its occupants. With the increased use of manydifferent types of self-propelled vehicles which run on land, water,snow, ice, or in the air, there has been an alarming increase in thenumber of serious injuries to the drivers and other occupants of thesevehicles. In particular, many occupants of snowmobiles have beenseriously injured when the snowmobile in which they are ridingencounters a wire fence or collides with a tree even at very low speeds.Invariably, the occupants of the snowmobile are seriously injured, andthe relatively thin sheets of metal or fiberglass from which the body ofthe snowmobile are made receive extreme damages which are usually beyondrepair.

Furthermore, many self-propelled vehicles, especially those which rideon snow or ice are subjected to various conditions of unbalance whichcause the vehicle to tip over sideways with its occupants. This type oftipping over accident most frequently occurs while the vehicle is inmotion. As a result, the occupants are invariably seriously injured andthe side portions of the vehicle are damaged beyond repair.

The present invention solves the problems and disadvantages mentionedhereinabove with reference to conventional self-propelled vehicles.

SUMMARY The present invention provides a protection apparatus for use inconjunction with a vehicle, comprising first means having at least aportion thereof disposed substantially transverse to the normaldirection of motion of the vehicle. The apparatus also includes secondmeans which is connected to the first means, and the second means isadapted to connect the protection apparatus to the vehicle. There isalso included third means whichv are disposed between and connected tothe first means and the second means. The apparatus also providescutting means connected to the first means, to the second means, or tothe third means for severing obstacles, such as wire fences, which maybe encountered when such vehicle is in motion.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a protectionapparatus for use in conjunction with a snowmobile. The apparatus isprovided with first means which includes a substantially U-shapedstructural member having a substantially square cross section. The firstmeans also includes a portion which is disposed substantially transverseto the normal direction of motion of the snowmobile, and that portionincludes a non-metallic bumper pad which is capable of absorbing animpact. The apparatus is also provided with second means which includesa substantially U-shaped structural member having a substantially squarecross section. The second means also includes predetermined means forremovably mounting the apparatus to the chassis of the snowmobile. Thelegs of the substantially U-shaped structural member of the first meansare rigidly affixed'to the legs of the substantially U-shaped structuralmember of the second means. There is also provided third means disposedbetween and connected to the first means and the second means. The thirdmeans includes a plurality of substantially parallel structural memberseach of which has a substantially square cross section. The surfaces ofthe first means and of the second means which are furthest from thevertical median plane of the snowmobile which is parallel to the normaldirection of motion of the snowmobile have a substantially flat shape.The apparatus is also provided with cutting means including at least twocutter elements which are disposed sub stantially parallel to the normaldirection of motion of the snowmobile. Each of the substantiallyparallel structural members of the third means has affixed thereto oneof the cutter elements for severing obstacles which, such as wirefences, ropes or tree branches, may be encountered by the snowmobilewhen the snowmobile is in motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective viewof a first embodiment of the protection apparatus according to thepresent invention which is shown mounted on a conventional snowmobile.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevational view of the first embodiment ofthe invention which is depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevational view of the first embodiment ofthe present invention which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of the first embodiment of thepresent invention which is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the bumper pad and thestructural member upon which it is mounted taken along the referenceline 5-5 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view partly in section showing one of themeans for removably mounting the protection apparatus onto the body ofthe snowmobile taken along the reference line 6-6 as depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one of the hardenedsteel cutter elements which are rigidly affixed to certain of the frontstructural members of the protection apparatus according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, there is illustrated a first embodiment of thepresent invention in the form of a protection apparatus 1 which may bereadily and removably mounted on a snowmobile 2. In this embodiment, theprotection apparatus 1 includes first means, such as a substantiallyU-shaped structural member 3, which has its uppermost portion disposedsubstantially transverse to the normal direction of motionof thesnowmobile 2. The uppermost portion of the structural member 3 may beprovided with an impactabsorbing bumper pad 4 which is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 5.

Tl-le protection apparatus 1 is also provided with second means whichincludes a substantially U-shaped structural member 5 which may have theends of its legs rigidly affixed, for example, by welding, to the endsof the legs of the structural member 3. Preferably, the member 5 extendsrearwardly and laterally proximate the lower portion of the vehicle. Thestructural member 5 is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and,as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, would normally be the firstportion of the protection apparatus 1 which would contact an obstacleinto which the snowmobile 1 may be driven. It is therefore necessary forthe structural member 5, as well as the other structural members of theprotection apparatus 1, to possess sufficient strength and impactresistance to withstand any accidental encounter of the snowmobile 1with an obstacle and to prevent the snowmobile 2 proper from beingdamaged. A vital feature of the present invention resides in the type ofstructural member which is employed in the protection apparatus 1 inorder to fulfill the strength and impact resistance requirements men:tioned hereinabove. A preferred type of structural member for use in thepresent invention would be fabricated from structural steel which has asubstantially square cross section. This is shown most clearly in F IG.5.

The type of structural member, its cross section, fitness and materialwill depend several variables, such as the size of the vehicle withwhich it is intended to be used, the mode of power of the vehicle, thegreatest speed of the vehicle, etc. For some types of conven tionalsnowmobiles, it has been found that structural members fabricated fromone inch square cross sectioned structural steel which is about A of aninch thick may afford more than adequate protection for the snowmobile 2and its occupants.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the protection apparatus 1 isprovided with third means, such as plurality of substantially parallelstructural members 6 and 7, which are disposed between and connected tothe structural member 3 and the structural member 5. It has also beenfound preferable to construct the structural members 6 and 7 fromstructural steel having a substantially square cross section.

The novel protection apparatus 1 is also provided with cutting meanswhich include at least two cutter elements 8 and 9 which have a hardknife-like edge 10 and 11, respectively, on the bottom side thereof. Thecutter elements 8 and 9 are rigidly affixed, for example, by welding, tothe surface of the structural members 6 and 7, respectively, on thatportion thereof which is sloping or disposed substantially oblique tothe normal direction of motion of the snowmobile 2. This particularplacement of the cutter elements 8 and 9 constitutes a vital feature ofthe present invention. When the snow mobile 2 or other vehicle uponwhich the protection apparatus 1 is mounted runs into or under anobstacle, such as a wire fence, the wire will slide up the slopingsurfaces of the structural members 6 and 7 until it encounters theknife-like edges 10 and 11, respectively, which cut or snap the wire. Inthis manner, grave injuries to the driver and other occupants or thesnowmobile 2 are avoided.

It is also important to note that the placement of the structuralmembers 6 and 7 and the affixed cutter elean impact-absorbing element orbumper pad 4 which I may be made of various non-metallic materials suchas rubber. The bumper pad 4 has a cylindrical outer periphery, and thebumper pad itself is mounted upon the square cross sectioned structuralmember 3. The bumper pad 4 may be made of a molded rubber ofpolyurethane material with a cylindrical outer periphery and a squarecross sectioned interior aperture for fitting on the structural member3. With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it will be observed that theuppermost ends of the structural members 6 and 7 assist materially inpreventing any lateral displacement or movement of the bumper pad 4along the structural member 3 upon which it is mounted. The bumper'pad 4is provided to minimize or completely eliminate possible injuries to thedriver or other occupants of the snowmobile 2. The bumper pad 4 isespecially useful should the head of the driver be thrown forward whenthe snowmobile 2 strikes an obstacle such as a tree or rock.

Another very important feature of the present invention relates to thefrequent problem of a tipping over of the snowmobile 2 in a sidewaysdirection. invariably, such a tipping over in a sideways directionoccurs when the snowmobile 2 is in motion.

Because of the square or rectangular cross section of the structuralmembers, the surfaces of the structural members which are furthest froma vertical median plane parallel to the normal direction of motion ofthe snowmobile 2 has a substantially flat shape. The flat outer surfaceof the square shape structural members, such as members 3 and 5, becomevital and come into play during such a tipping over when these flatouter surfaces act as a runner or skid for the vehicle while it is inmotion but tipped over sideways. This feature also adds materially tothe damage and injury prevention aspects of the present invention.

The dimensions of the protection apparatus 1, and particularily of thestructural member 3, are carefully controlled variables for making thepresent invention eminently suitable for use in conjunction with anyvehicle, especially a snowmobile. in particular, the bumper pad 4 ispositioned so as to be level when the top of the head of the driver ofthe snowmobile 2 in order to increase the chances of the head of thedriver striking the impact absorbing bumper pad 4 in an accident, ratherthan any other element on the snowmobile 2 or protection apparatus 1.The transverse portion of the structural element 3 with its affixedbumper pad 4 does not interfere with the line of vision of the driver ofthe snowmobile 2.

It has been found that the damages and injuries to a snowmobile 2 oroccupants are severely increased when the snowmobile tips over sidewaysbecause the vehicle will invariably keep tipping over or turn completelyover and thus, gravely injure the occupants. The present inventioneliminates this problem of a complete turnover of the snowmobile 2 byproviding a sufiiciently high enough substantially vertical member, suchas structural member 3, which makes it virtually impossible for thesnowmobile 2 to turn completely over when the structural member 3 makescontact with the ground. Furthermore, this tipping over or unbalancecondition of snowmobiles invariably occurs when the snowmobile is inmotion. The relatively high dimension of the structural member 3together with the flat outer surfaces of the structural members 3 and 5permit the snowmobile 2 to skid along the ground for many yards beforeit comes to rest without the danger of the snowmobile 2 tippingcompletely over.

it is also important to note that the protection apparatus 1 accordingto the present invention provides a type of cradle or basket protectingthe various parts on the conventional snowmobile. conventionalsnowmobiles are manufactured with materials, such as thin sheets offiberglass or aluminum, which are relatively soft as compared to thestructural members of the novel protection apparatus 1. The protectionapparatus 1 not only prevents the portions of the snowmobile proper frombeing damaged, but also adds substantial strength and rigidity to theentire framework of the snowmobile 2.

With particular reference to the FIG. 4, it is shown that the squarecross section structural member 5 is positioned so that its forwardmostpart is in a position which would contact any obstacle encountered bythe snowmobile 2 before any of the other parts of the protectionapparatus 1 or of the snowmobile 2 itself. An important aspect of thepresent invention resides in the particular shape of the structuralmember 5. It has been found in practice to provide the structural member5 with a pointed nose 12 which tapers off on both sides to a curvedstructure so that the top plan view of the structural member 5 appearsto resemble a substantially Gothic arch shaped member. As an alternativeor modification of the particular shape of structural member 5illustrated in FIG. 4, the nose of the structural member 5 can beprovided with a small radius of curvature. Either of these types of noseshapes is of considerable assistance when the snowmobile 2 shouldcontact an obstacle, such as for example a tree. The rounded nose or thepointed nose l2, resembling the top of a Gothic arch, helps to push thesnowmobile or the encountered obstacle to one side or the other, andthus minimizes, if not completely eliminates, the chances of having afully solid impact with any encountered obstacle. In other words, thesnowmobile 2 provided with the protection apparatus 1 will glance off ofor veer off of a great variety of possible encountered obstacles.

It also essential that the protection apparatus 1 be relatively lightand be capable of being mounted and removed from the snowmobile propervery quickly and easily without requiring more than one person andwithout the necessity of any tools whatsoever. .The present inventionmeets these requirements, and indeed even a teenager can readily mountor remove the protection apparatus l from the snowmobile 2 within lessthan seconds without the necessity of using any tools at all.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, it can be seen that thesubstantially horizontal square cross sectioned structural member 5 maybe provided with leg portions 13 and 14 which extend further back fromthe welded junction of the structural member 3 with the structuralmember 5. These leg portions 13 and 14 add considerable strength andrigidity to the protection apparatus 1, and also augment the protectivecradling arrangement of the apparatus. Because the conventionalsnowmobile 2 is invariably sold as original equipment with weak body andside members, it has been found ad-' vantageous to afiix substantiallyL-shaped angle members 15 to the body or frame of the snowmobile 2 bymeans of nuts 16 and bolts 17, shown best in FIG. 6. This not onlystrengthens the snowmobile 2 itself, but provides ample mounting supportfor the protection apparatus 1. The angle members 15 can be leftpermanently affixed to the snowmobile 2. The substantially horizontalplatform of the angle member 15 can be provided with an aperture 18 toaccommodate a mounting pin 19 which is described in greater detailhereinafter.

As mentioned above, it is essential that the protection apparatus 1 beeasily and readily mounted onto the snowmobile 2 with a'minimum ofeffort and tools. These objectives are accomplished by a specialmounting arrangement which is best illustrated in FIG. 6. The structuralmember 5 is provided with three mounting pins 19 which are welded to thestructural member 5. An exemplary placement of the three mounting pins19 is best seen in FIG. 4. Referring again to FIG. 6, it is shown thatthe mounting pin 19 is mounted internally and substantiallybisects thestructural member 5, and may be welded at 20 near the upper surface ofthe structural member 5. A rubber washer 21 may be placed around thedepending mounting pin 19, and between the lower surface of the squaresectioned structural member 5 and the horizontal platform provided bythe angle member 15. This rubber member eliminates any rattling betweenthe protection apparatus 1 and the angle members 15, and at the sametime provides shock absorbing means.

The depending mounting pins 19 are inserted in the apertures 18 withinthe angle members 15. The portion of the depending mounting pin 19 whichis below the horizontal platform of the angle member 15 is provided witha small horizontally-directed hole 22. A readily removable hitch pinclip 23, which functions like a cotter pin, may be readily and quicklyinserted through the horizontal hole 22 to ensure that the mounting pinI 19 remains in its proper position.

I claim: 1. A protection apparatus for use in conjunction with avehicle, comprising, in combination:

generally U-shaped first means having upwardly extending legs eachdisposed on an opposite side of said vehicle, and a cross portionextending substantially transverse to the normal direction of motion ofsaid vehicle between the uppermost ends of said upwardly extending legs;said first means includes a first structural element which has asubstantially square cross section; generally U-shaped second meansdisposed in a substantially horizontal plane of said vehicle such thatthe legs of the U-shape extend substantially rearwardly and laterallyproximate the lower portion of the vehicle and the cross portion of theU-shape extends across the front of said vehicle so that the forwardmostpart of said second means is in a position which would contact anyobstacle encountered by said vehicle before any of the other componentsof said protective apparatus and said vehicle;

said second means includes a second structural element which has asubstantially square cross section; the legs of said generallyU-shapedfirst means being rigidly affixed to the legs of said generallyU- shaped second means; I

said extensions of the legs of said second means afford added protectionto the sides of said vehicle without presenting an obstacle to thedriver and passenger in entering or exiting from said vehicle;

third means disposed between and connected to said first and said secondmeans;

said third means including a plurality of substantially parallel spacedapart third structural members each of which has substantially squarecross section; the surfaces of said first means and of said second meanswhich are disposed at the furthest distance from the vertical medianplane of said vehicle parallel to the normal direction of motion of saidvehicle have a substantially fiatsurface; and

cutting means integrally and non-movably affixed to each of said thirdmeans for severing obstacles which may be encountered by said vehiclewhen said vehicle is in motion. 3

2. A protection apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 1,wherein said third means includes at least a portion thereof which isdisposed substantially oblique to said normal direction of motion ofsaid vehicle, and said cutting means is connected to said portion ofsaid third means which is disposed substantially oblique to said normaldirection of motion of said vehicle.

3. A protection apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 2,wherein said first means, said second means and said third means form acradle-like structure for protecting said vehicle and its occupants;said first means of said cradle-like structure being sufficiently highrelative to the center of gravity of said vehicle to minimize thelikelihood of said vehicle tipping over substantially more than 90.during an accident or imbalance condition; and the forwardmost portionof said second means of said cradle-like structure being provided with asubstantially small radius of curvature to facilitate veering off of anyobstacle which may be encountered when said vehicle is in motion.

4. A protection apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 1,wherein:

said first, second and third means form a structure laterallytrapezoidal in profile and said second means consists of one and onlyone structural element having a non-circular cross section and extendingbelow the lower ends of said first and second means.

5. A protection apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means forremovably mounting said protection apparatus to said vehicle,comprising:

at least three brackets, a different one positioned and affixed on eachside of said vehicle and a third positioned at the front of said vehiclein thesubstantially horizontal plane of said vehicle which contains themost outward protruding portions of said vehicle;

means defining a hole in each of said brackets, the

longitudinal axis of each of said holes being substantiallyperpendicular to said horizontal plane of said vehicle;

at least three depending pins affixed to said third means, each adaptedto be received in a different one of said holes in one of said bracketsand being of such a length as to extend completely through and belowsaid brackets;

means defining at least one horizontally-directed hole in each of saidpins in that portion thereof which extends below said brackets; and

at least three hitch pins, each adapted to be removably received in adifferent one of said horizontally-directed holes in said dependingpins.

6. A protection apparatus for use in conjunction with a vehicle whichincludes a frame, a cowl mounted on the forward end of said frame, andan occupant section immediately to the rear of said cowl, comprising, incombination:

generally U-shaped first means having upwardly extending legs, each ofsaid legs being positioned on opposite sides of said cowl at therearwardmost edge of said cowl, and a cross portion disposedsubstantially transverse to the normal direction of motion of saidvehicle between the uppermost ends of said legs over the top of saidcowl;

said first means includes a firststructural element which has asubstantially square cross section;

a non-metallic energy absorbing pad disposed on said transverse portionof said first means to absorb the energy of impact by the driver andpassenger of said vehicle with said transverse portion of said firstmeans in the event the driver or passenger of i said vehicle isprojected upward when said vehicle encounters an unyielding obstacle;

generally U-shaped second means disposed in a substantially horizontalplane of said vehicle such that the legs of the U-shape extend rearwardand the cross portion of the U-shape extends across the front of saidvehicle so that the forwardmost part I of said second means is in aposition which would contact any obstacle encountered by said vehiclebefore any of the other components of said protec tion apparatus andsaid vehicle;

the extreme lower ends of said upwardly extending legs of said firstmeans are integrally affixed and rigidly secured to said rearwardlyextending legs of said second means forwardly of the rear end of saidcowl;

said second means includes a second structural element which has asubstantially square cross section;

the legs of said generally U-shaped second means extend substantiallyhorizontally rearward past the junction of the extreme lower ends of thelegs of said first means with the legs of said substantially Ushapedsecond means and rearward past the rear end of said cowl, saidextensions of the legs of said second means afford added protection tothe sides of said vehicle without presenting an obstacle to the driverand passenger in entering or exiting from said vehicle;

third means disposed between and connected to said first means and saidsecond means;

said third means including a plurality of substantially parallel spacedapart third structural members each of which has a substantially squarecross section and each of which has a substantially vertical portion andan oblique portion, said third means being secured to said second meansrearwardly of the forward surface of said second means;

said first, second and third means forming a structure laterallytrapezoidal in profile;

at least those surfaces of said protection apparatus which are disposedat the furthest distance from the vertical median plane of said vehiclehave a substantially flat shape; and

cutting means integrally and non-movably affixed to each of said thirdmeans for severing obstacles which may be encountered by said vehiclewhen said vehicle is in motion.

7. A protection apparatus as defined in claim 6, in-

at least three brackets, a different one positioned and affixed on eachside of said vehicle and a third positioned at the front of said vehiclein the substantially horizontal plane of said vehicle which contains themost outward protruding portions of said vehicle;

means defining a hole in each of said brackets, the

longitudinal axis of each of said holes being substantiallyperpendicular to said horizontal plane of said vehicle;

at least three depending pins afiixed to said third means, each adaptedto be received in a different one of said holes in one of said bracketsand being of such a length as to extend completely through and belowsaid brackets;

means defining at least one horizontally-directed hole in each of saidpins in that portion thereof which extends below said brackets; and

at least three hitch pins, each adapted to be removably received in adifferent one of said horizontally-directed holes in said dependingpins.

1. A protection apparatus for use in conjunction with a vehicle, comprising, in combination: generally U-shaped first means having upwardly extending legs each disposed on an opposite side of said vehicle, and a cross portion extending substantially transverse to the normal direction of motion of said vehiCle between the uppermost ends of said upwardly extending legs; said first means includes a first structural element which has a substantially square cross section; generally U-shaped second means disposed in a substantially horizontal plane of said vehicle such that the legs of the Ushape extend substantially rearwardly and laterally proximate the lower portion of the vehicle and the cross portion of the U-shape extends across the front of said vehicle so that the forwardmost part of said second means is in a position which would contact any obstacle encountered by said vehicle before any of the other components of said protective apparatus and said vehicle; said second means includes a second structural element which has a substantially square cross section; the legs of said generally U-shaped first means being rigidly affixed to the legs of said generally U-shaped second means; said extensions of the legs of said second means afford added protection to the sides of said vehicle without presenting an obstacle to the driver and passenger in entering or exiting from said vehicle; third means disposed between and connected to said first and said second means; said third means including a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart third structural members each of which has substantially square cross section; the surfaces of said first means and of said second means which are disposed at the furthest distance from the vertical median plane of said vehicle parallel to the normal direction of motion of said vehicle have a substantially flat surface; and cutting means integrally and non-movably affixed to each of said third means for severing obstacles which may be encountered by said vehicle when said vehicle is in motion.
 2. A protection apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 1, wherein said third means includes at least a portion thereof which is disposed substantially oblique to said normal direction of motion of said vehicle, and said cutting means is connected to said portion of said third means which is disposed substantially oblique to said normal direction of motion of said vehicle.
 3. A protection apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first means, said second means and said third means form a cradle-like structure for protecting said vehicle and its occupants; said first means of said cradle-like structure being sufficiently high relative to the center of gravity of said vehicle to minimize the likelihood of said vehicle tipping over substantially more than 90* during an accident or imbalance condition; and the forwardmost portion of said second means of said cradle-like structure being provided with a substantially small radius of curvature to facilitate veering off of any obstacle which may be encountered when said vehicle is in motion.
 4. A protection apparatus characterized in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said first, second and third means form a structure laterally trapezoidal in profile and said second means consists of one and only one structural element having a non-circular cross section and extending below the lower ends of said first and second means.
 5. A protection apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for removably mounting said protection apparatus to said vehicle, comprising: at least three brackets, a different one positioned and affixed on each side of said vehicle and a third positioned at the front of said vehicle in the substantially horizontal plane of said vehicle which contains the most outward protruding portions of said vehicle; means defining a hole in each of said brackets, the longitudinal axis of each of said holes being substantially perpendicular to said horizontal plane of said vehicle; at least three depending pins affixed to said third means, each adapted to be received in a different one of said holes in one of said brackets and being of such a length as to extend completely Through and below said brackets; means defining at least one horizontally-directed hole in each of said pins in that portion thereof which extends below said brackets; and at least three hitch pins, each adapted to be removably received in a different one of said horizontally-directed holes in said depending pins.
 6. A protection apparatus for use in conjunction with a vehicle which includes a frame, a cowl mounted on the forward end of said frame, and an occupant section immediately to the rear of said cowl, comprising, in combination: generally U-shaped first means having upwardly extending legs, each of said legs being positioned on opposite sides of said cowl at the rearwardmost edge of said cowl, and a cross portion disposed substantially transverse to the normal direction of motion of said vehicle between the uppermost ends of said legs over the top of said cowl; said first means includes a first structural element which has a substantially square cross section; a non-metallic energy absorbing pad disposed on said transverse portion of said first means to absorb the energy of impact by the driver and passenger of said vehicle with said transverse portion of said first means in the event the driver or passenger of said vehicle is projected upward when said vehicle encounters an unyielding obstacle; generally U-shaped second means disposed in a substantially horizontal plane of said vehicle such that the legs of the U-shape extend rearward and the cross portion of the U-shape extends across the front of said vehicle so that the forwardmost part of said second means is in a position which would contact any obstacle encountered by said vehicle before any of the other components of said protection apparatus and said vehicle; the extreme lower ends of said upwardly extending legs of said first means are integrally affixed and rigidly secured to said rearwardly extending legs of said second means forwardly of the rear end of said cowl; said second means includes a second structural element which has a substantially square cross section; the legs of said generally U-shaped second means extend substantially horizontally rearward past the junction of the extreme lower ends of the legs of said first means with the legs of said substantially U-shaped second means and rearward past the rear end of said cowl, said extensions of the legs of said second means afford added protection to the sides of said vehicle without presenting an obstacle to the driver and passenger in entering or exiting from said vehicle; third means disposed between and connected to said first means and said second means; said third means including a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart third structural members each of which has a substantially square cross section and each of which has a substantially vertical portion and an oblique portion, said third means being secured to said second means rearwardly of the forward surface of said second means; said first, second and third means forming a structure laterally trapezoidal in profile; at least those surfaces of said protection apparatus which are disposed at the furthest distance from the vertical median plane of said vehicle have a substantially flat shape; and cutting means integrally and non-movably affixed to each of said third means for severing obstacles which may be encountered by said vehicle when said vehicle is in motion.
 7. A protection apparatus as defined in claim 6, including means for removably mounting said protection apparatus to said vehicle, comprising: at least three brackets, a different one positioned and affixed on each side of said vehicle and a third positioned at the front of said vehicle in the substantially horizontal plane of said vehicle which contains the most outward protruding portions of said vehicle; means defining a hole in each of said brackets, the longitudinal axis of each of said holes being substantially perpendiCular to said horizontal plane of said vehicle; at least three depending pins affixed to said third means, each adapted to be received in a different one of said holes in one of said brackets and being of such a length as to extend completely through and below said brackets; means defining at least one horizontally-directed hole in each of said pins in that portion thereof which extends below said brackets; and at least three hitch pins, each adapted to be removably received in a different one of said horizontally-directed holes in said depending pins. 